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While he loved the pleasure of her touch, he knew it was wrong. And he wished that he could shove her hand away, but that would be rude. Instead he kept his eyes on the bright ball of sun.
“I am no hero,” he told her.
She chuckled and gratefully her hand drifted off him. “I would say you are modest, but I know better.”
He laughed. “You have gotten to know me well in the short time I have been here.”
“You have made it easy for me to get to know you.”
“How so?” he asked curious.
“Our talks,” she said brightening. “When two people spend time talking they are bound to get to know each other.”
“And become friends,” he said, wanting her to know without a doubt he was her friend.
“And become friends,” she repeated.
They both turned to stare at the sun high in the sky. He was glad she thought of him as a friend, but if he were honest he wished there could be more between them. He berated himself for such sinful thoughts. He had to forget how her lips were perfect for kissing, how he itched to take hold of her slim waist and then roam his hands over her generous hips. And finally cup her firm backside with eager hands.
He stood quickly, needing desperately to put distance between them. “I will see you later.”
He hurried off and because he never looked back, he never saw the look of regret his hasty departure had left in her eyes.
Later that day, Terese wasn’t surprised to learn that Frances and Henry would also find a home with the clan Sinclare. She had expected as much from Lachlan. While she could spy the warrior within him, she was more interested in the man who seemed to truly care about people. Unlike many warriors in her clan, he wasn’t always commanding, demanding, or loud. What surprised her most about her talks with him is that he listened. He truly seemed interested in what she had to say.
He was the type of man she could have feelings for, but knowing that was impossible she chose to have him as a friend.
Terese stood in the field continuing to daydream instead of finishing the planting.
It was Megan who startled her out of her musings. She wore a smile, but her words expressed the opposite. “I believe Andrew keeps a watch on me.”
Terese covered her own concern with a pleasant grin, wanting no one to suspect their conversation was anything but ordinary. “How so?”
“He’s been lingering around me. He thinks I don’t notice him, that I’m too absorbed in my chores, but I see him. And he followed me to one of the farms the other day.”
“You let him?”
Megan nodded, her forced smile spreading. “It was a visit to the Timmins farm.”
Terese nodded knowingly. Rachel Timmins would birth her third babe in a month’s time, so there was a good reason for Megan to be there. Of course, Rachel and her husband Robert knew the truth about the sisters and were staunch supporters.
“I have noticed that I’m not the only one being watched,” Megan said. “I see that Boyd and Evan have kept keen eyes on all of us with Lachlan keeping the keenest eye on you.”
“What do you mean?” Terese snapped and realizing she had shown her temper quickly renewed her smile.
Megan covered her chuckle. “Lachlan is smitten with you.”
“Don’t be silly,” Terese said but wondered if it dare be true.
“If he didn’t believe you a nun, he would have made his feelings known by now.”
“He charms, that’s all,” Terese said trying to dismiss it as nothing, while secretly thinking…was it possible?
Megan shook her head. “No, this is more than charm. He worried incessantly about you while you were gone. That’s not merely charm, that’s caring.”
Terese tried to dismiss it once again. “He’s just a friend.”
“He’d be more if he could.”
“How would you know?” Terese challenged, wishing Megan could confirm it, since no man had ever cared in such a way for her. And it touched her heart and tempted her dreams.
“Let us continue planting as we talk,” Megan suggested, “so no one will suspect anything of us.”
Terese quickly followed her lead, eager to hear more.
Megan continued as they dropped seeds on the prepared ground. “I have seen more lust in men’s eyes than I have seen love. But when I did, it was so genuine that it moved me to tears. I see that memorable look in Lachlan’s eyes when he looks at you.”
Terese felt a catch to her heart. Why did it have to be now, like this…when she wasn’t free to love this man?
“You loved once?” Terese asked, needing time to digest the thought.
“More importantly,” Megan said softly, “I was once loved.”
Conversation ceased and Terese’s only thought was that after all she had been through, all she had fought for, that there was finally a possibility that love was knocking at her door. And the sad part was…she couldn’t answer it.
